Joon-Ho Kim, Seongnam-Si KR

Joon-Ho Kim, Seongnam-Si KR

Patent application number

Description

Published

20080305011

MICROFLUIDIC CHIP AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - Provided are a microfluidic chip and a method of fabricating the same. The microfluidic chip includes: a lower substrate; an upper substrate formed of a silicone resin, wherein the lower substrate and the upper substrate, bonded together, provide a channel through which a fluid can flow and a chamber to receive the fluid; and an organic thin film formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate except for portions on which the lower substrate and the upper substrate are attached to each other.

METHOD OF PURIFYING RNA USING KOSMOTROPIC SALT - The present invention provides a method of purifying RNA, including contacting a solid support with an acidic solution having a RNA-containing sample and a kosmotropic salt having a concentration of less than 1M, thereby binding the RNA to the solid support. According to the present invention, RNA is purified efficiently due to high RNA yield and low contamination by DNA. The present invention is particularly effective in purifying RNAs of 200 nucleotides or less.

02-19-2009

20090098291

METHOD OF PRODUCING SOLID SUPPORT FOR BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS USING PLASTIC MATERIAL - The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a solid support for biological analysis using a plastic material, the method including: depositing a metal film on a plastic substrate on which a microstructure is formed; depositing an inorganic oxide on the metal film; and anchoring a compound with an amino functional group or a compound with a water contact angle of 70 to 95 degrees on the inorganic oxide.

MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE COMPRISING ELECTROLYSIS DEVICE FOR CELL LYSIS AND METHOD FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY LYSING CELLS USING THE SAME - Provided are a microfluidic device including an electrolysis device for cell lysis which includes an anode chamber, a cathode chamber and a separator, in which the separator is installed between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, the anode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet for an anode chamber solution and an electrode, and the cathode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet for a cathode chamber solution and an electrode, and a method of electrochemically lysing cells using the same.

06-25-2009

20090170211

SENSING SWITCH AND DETECTING METHOD USING THE SAME - Provided are a sensing switch and a sensing method using the same. The sensing switch includes: a substrate; a supporter on the substrate; a sensing plate that is connected to a side of the supporter and is in parallel with the substrate by a predetermined distance; a receptor binding region on an upper surface of an end portion of the sensing plate; an electric or magnetic field generation device that induces deflection of the sensing plate when a receptor bound to the receptor binding region is selectively bound to an electrically or magnetically active ligand; and a pair of switching electrodes that are separated by a predetermined distance and is connected when the sensing plate contacts the substrate due to the deflection of the sensing plate. A target material need not be labelled, a signal processing of a fluorescent or electrical detection signal using an analysis apparatus is not required, and a signal can be directly decoded by confirming whether a current flows through the switch.

07-02-2009

20090317918

METHOD OF HEATING LIQUID MEDIUM USING MICROWAVES AND ANIONS - Provided is a method comprising adding anions having a high charge density to a liquid medium; the liquid medium comprising molecules that hydrogen bond with one another; the anions interacting with the molecules of the liquid medium with a force that is stronger than the forces that produce hydrogen bonding between the molecules of the medium; and heating the liquid medium by irradiating it with microwaves.

12-24-2009

20100015695

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AMPLIFYING NUCLEIC ACIDS - A method and apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids. The method includes introducing into a reaction vessel via different inlet channels a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification and a fluid that is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction, creating a plurality of reactant aqueous solution droplets surrounded by the fluid by contacting the reactant aqueous solution with the fluid in the reaction vessel, and amplifying the nucleic acids in the reactant aqueous solution droplets. The apparatus includes a substrate, a reaction vessel formed inside of the substrate, at least one first inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to an end of the reaction vessel, and allowing introduction of a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification into the reaction vessel, a second inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to the end of the reaction vessel, and allowing introduction of a fluid that is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction into the reaction vessel, and a heating unit installed on the substrate in such a way to thermally contact with the substrate and heating the substrate.

01-21-2010

20100021972

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AMPLIFYING NUCLEIC ACIDS - A method and apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids. The method includes introducing into a reaction vessel via different inlet channels a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification and a fluid that is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction, creating a plurality of reactant aqueous solution droplets surrounded by the fluid by contacting the reactant aqueous solution with the fluid in the reaction vessel, and amplifying the nucleic acids in the reactant aqueous solution droplets. The apparatus includes a substrate, a reaction vessel formed inside of the substrate, at least one first inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to an end of the reaction vessel, and allowing introduction of a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification into the reaction vessel, a second inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to the end of the reaction vessel, and allowing introduction of a fluid that is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction into the reaction vessel, and a heating unit installed on the substrate in such a way to thermally contact with the substrate and heating the substrate.

MICROFLUIDIC VALVE UNIT FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF FLUID AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A microfluidic valve unit for controlling the flow of fluid flowing along a channel, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The valve unit includes a channel formed in a platform; a valve filler which includes a phase transition material that is disposed in the channel in a solid state at room temperature to close the channel and is melted when energy is applied thereto; and at least one capillary channel which extends from a sidewall of the channel and into which the valve filler flows when the valve filler is melted, wherein the at least one capillary channel has a cross-sectional area which is less than a cross-sectional area of the channel.

07-29-2010

20100329931

SENSING SWITCH AND DETECTING METHOD USING THE SAME - Provided are a sensing switch and a sensing method using the same. The sensing switch includes: a substrate; a supporter on the substrate; a sensing plate that is connected to a side of the supporter and is in parallel with the substrate by a predetermined distance; a receptor binding region on an upper surface of an end portion of the sensing plate; an electric or magnetic field generation device that induces deflection of the sensing plate when a receptor bound to the receptor binding region is selectively bound to an electrically or magnetically active ligand; and a pair of switching electrodes that are separated by a predetermined distance and is connected when the sensing plate contacts the substrate due to the deflection of the sensing plate. A target material need not be labelled, a signal processing of a fluorescent or electrical detection signal using an analysis apparatus is not required, and a signal can be directly decoded by confirming whether a current flows through the switch.

MICROFLUIDIC CHIP AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - Provided are a microfluidic chip and a method of fabricating the same. The microfluidic chip includes: a lower substrate; an upper substrate formed of a silicone resin, wherein the lower substrate and the upper substrate, bonded together, provide a channel through which a fluid can flow and a chamber to receive the fluid; and an organic thin film formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate except for portions on which the lower substrate and the upper substrate are attached to each other.

04-07-2011

20110151543

CELL SEPARATION METHOD USING HYDROPHOBIC SOLID SUPPORTS - Provided is a method of separating cells using a hydrophobic solid support. The method comprises contacting a solution containing cells with a hydrophobic solid support having a water contact angle between 70 and 90 degrees. By allowing cells to be adsorbed to the hydrophobic solid substrate, the cells can be separated. Thus, the cell separation efficiency can be rapidly and simply increased.

06-23-2011

20110196050

ION EXCHANGEABLE MIXTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME - An ion exchangeable mixture containing a polymeric compound consisting of an ion exchange resin, an acrylamide mixture containing at least one bisacrylamide and at least one acrylamide, and a copolymer obtained by reacting the polymeric compound with the acrylamide mixture, and a method of producing the same are provided. The ion exchangeable membrane produced by using the ion exchangeable mixture has significantly smaller electric resistance than conventional ion exchangeable membranes, and has excellent selective permeability because the ion exchangeable membrane is electrically charged. The ion exchangeable membrane can be produced under very mild production conditions, and thus can be produced very easily. Furthermore, the ion exchangeable membrane can be also formed into film during a crosslinking reaction in a solvent of water, and thus is advantageous in that the ion exchangeable membrane can be freely produced into desired sizes, shapes and forms.

08-11-2011

20110286885

MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE HAVING NORMALLY OPEN TYPE MICROVALVE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE - A microfluidic device includes a microvalve formed by disposing a thin elastic film and a valve seat in a microfluidic channel of the microfluidic device. The microvalve is a normally open type valve in which the elastic film does not contact the valve seat. According to the microvalve of the microfluidic device, an additional process for separating the elastic film from the valve seat is not required. Accordingly, the microfluidic device may have a relatively simple manufacturing process. Also, since an initialization operation to use the microfluidic device is not required, the flow of a fluid in the microfluidic device may be efficiently controlled without additional processing steps.

FLUORESCENCE DETECTION OPTICAL SYSTEM AND MULTI-CHANNEL FLUORESCENCE DETECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - A fluorescence detection optical system comprises a light source which emits excitation light, a collimating lens which condenses the excitation light emitted from the light source into substantially parallel light, an objective lens which focuses the excitation light on a microchamber of a microfluidic device, an optical detector which measures an intensity of a fluorescence signal generated in the microchamber by the excitation light, a beam splitter which transmits or reflects the excitation light emitted from the light source toward the objective lens, and reflects or transmits the fluorescence signal generated in the microchamber toward the optical detector, and a beam shaping lens which is disposed between the beam splitter and the objective lens and expands an optical spot of the excitation light in one direction in accordance with a shape of the microchamber.

MICRO-DEVICE AND METHODS FOR DISRUPTING CELLS - A micro-device for disrupting cells includes a first chamber in which the cells are disrupted, a second chamber which is pressurized and depressurized, a flexible membrane which separates the first chamber and the second chamber and is vibrated by pressuring and depressurizing the second chamber, and a micro-unit confined in the first chamber, where the micro-unit disrupts the cells in the first chamber

05-03-2012

20120107912

CELL LYSIS DEVICE AND METHODS OF LYSING CELLS OR VIRUSES - A method of lysing at least one of a cell and a virus, the method including: contacting a sample, which includes at least one of a cell and a virus, with a plurality of beads which are disposed in a first chamber to obtain a combination of the sample and the beads; and agitating the combination of the sample and the beads to lyse the at least one of the cell and the virus, wherein in the first chamber a liquid volume fraction is 0.6 or less, and wherein the liquid volume fraction is a value obtained by dividing a liquid volume of the first chamber by a pure void volume equivalent to a sum of the liquid volume of the first chamber and a void volume of the first chamber.

05-03-2012

20120141999

GENE ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND GENE ANALYSIS METHOD USING THE SAME - A gene analysis apparatus includes a sample preparation chip in which a polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) sample is prepared, a PCR chip in which a PCR is performed on the PCR sample, and a package layer on which the sample preparation chip and the PCR chip are mounted. The package layer includes a channel through which a material flows from the sample preparation chip to the PCR chip. The sample preparation chip and the PCR chip are on a same side or on opposing sides of the package layer.

06-07-2012

20120255871

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING PH OF SOLUTION - A pH adjusting apparatus includes an electrolytic chip receiving a solution, an electrolytic chip loading station receiving the electrolytic chip, an input unit inputting electrolysis conditions, a control unit receiving the electrolysis conditions and controlling electrolysis performed in the electrolytic chip, and a display unit displaying the electrolysis conditions and a progress of the electrolysis. Thus, the pH of a solution can be adjusted easily and accurately, by precisely controlling a constant current, a constant voltage, and current and voltage application times, thereby enabling useful application in various biological assays such as cell lysis. Furthermore, the pH adjusting apparatus has small size and weight and can be operated for a long time after charging once due to low power consumption.

FLUORESCENCE DETECTING OPTICAL SYSTEM AND MULTI-CHANNEL FLUORESCENCE DETECTION APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fluorescence detection optical system detects fluorescence beams with two or more different wavelengths and maintains a focal position through an automatic focusing function. A multi-channel fluorescence detection apparatus includes the fluorescence detection optical system. The fluorescence detection optical system includes an automatic focusing unit which receives light reflected off a microfluidic device and determines a focal point by using an astigmatic method or a knife edge method, and an actuator which adjusts a position of an objective lens according to control of the automatic focusing unit. In addition, the fluorescence detection optical system may include a plurality of dual band pass filters, dichroic devices, etc., which provide light beams emitted from at least two light sources and transfer fluorescence generated from the microfluidic device to a photodetector.

11-08-2012

20120305801

FLUORESCENCE DETECTING OPTICAL SYSTEM AND MULTI-CHANNEL FLUORESCENCE DETECTION APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fluorescence detecting optical system, and a multi-channel fluorescence detection apparatus comprising same, comprising a light source that emits excitation light, a polarizer that transmits light having a predetermined polarization component, a polarizing beam splitter that transmits light having a predetermined polarization component and reflects light having a different polarization component than the predetermined polarization component, and a quarter-wave plate converting linearly polarized to circularly polarized light or vice versa.

12-06-2012

20120309004

MICRO-DEVICE AND METHODS FOR DISRUPTING CELLS - A micro-device for disrupting cells includes a first chamber in which the cells are disrupted, a second chamber which is pressurized and depressurized, a flexible membrane which separates the first chamber and the second chamber and is vibrated by pressuring and depressurizing the second chamber, and a micro-unit confined in the first chamber, where the micro-unit disrupts the cells in the first chamber.

12-06-2012

20120309082

MICRO-FLUID SUPPLYING DEVICE HAVING GAS BUBBLE TRAPPING FUNCTION - A micro-fluid supplying device having a gas bubble trapping function. The micro-fluid supplying device includes: a fluid supplier including a fluid having a biomaterial; a trap chamber in which a gas bubble is removed from the fluid supplied from the fluid supplier; and a fluid discharger which externally discharges a material supplied from the trap chamber. Material properties of a side wall and a bottom of an inside of the trap chamber are different from each other. The side wall has a better property of wetting with respect to the fluid supplied from the fluid supplier than the bottom.

12-06-2012

20120329891

ION EXCHANGEABLE MIXTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME - An ion exchangeable mixture containing a polymeric compound consisting of an ion exchange resin, an acrylamide mixture containing at least one bisacrylamide and at least one acrylamide, and a copolymer obtained by reacting the polymeric compound with the acrylamide mixture, and a method of producing the same are provided. The ion exchangeable membrane produced by using the ion exchangeable mixture has significantly smaller electric resistance than conventional ion exchangeable membranes, and has excellent selective permeability because the ion exchangeable membrane is electrically charged. The ion exchangeable membrane can be produced under very mild production conditions, and thus can be produced very easily. Furthermore, the ion exchangeable membrane can be also formed into film during a crosslinking reaction in a solvent of water, and thus is advantageous in that the ion exchangeable membrane can be freely produced into desired sizes, shapes and forms.

12-27-2012

20130137165

GENE ANALYSIS DEVICE - A gene analysis device including an illumination optical system radiating exciting light onto a sample solution; a microfluidic device for forming a bio-reaction space of the sample solution and including at least one micro-chamber in which a reflection pattern is formed; and a detection optical system for detecting a fluorescence signal generated by a bio-reaction in the micro-chamber and comprising a photodetector.

05-30-2013

20130156658

MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Embodiments of the disclosure describe a microfluidic device and a method of manufacturing the same. An embodiment of the microfluidic device includes a first substrate in which a micro-flow path and a valve seat protruding toward the micro-flow path are formed; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate and in which a cavity corresponding to the valve seat is formed; and a polymer film disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and comprising a bonding unit bonded to the first and second substrates and a variable unit having a variable shape according to pneumatic pressure of the cavity, wherein the variable unit has a curvature and is spaced apart from the valve seat when pneumatic pressure is not provided to the variable unit.

06-20-2013

20130171640

SOLID REAGENT DISSOLVING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISSOLVING SOLID REAGENT BY USING THE SAME - A solid reagent dissolving device including a flexible layer; an upper plate disposed on the flexible layer; and a lower plate disposed under the flexible layer, wherein the upper plate comprises a plurality of minute channels, a dissolution chamber connected with the plurality of minute channels, and a protrusion for limiting a flow of a fluid flowing through one of the plurality of minute channels, the lower plate comprises a plurality of penetration holes that correspond to the protrusion and the dissolution chamber, respectively, and one side of each of the plurality of penetration holes, the plurality of minute channels, and the dissolution chamber are covered with the flexible layer, and method of using same.

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DETECTING AND CONTROLLING FLUID IN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE - A fluid control apparatus including a detecting unit including a light source for irradiating light toward a microfluidic device, and a photodetector for detecting light reflected from the microfluidic device, a transporting unit for moving the detecting unit; and a determining unit for controlling a transporting operation by the transporting unit, where determining a state of a fluid at a particular position relative to the microfluidic device is based on light reflected from the microfluidic device, and method of using same.

REAGENT SUPPLY DEVICE FOR ANALYSIS OF NUCLEIC ACID - A reagent supply device includes a plurality of chambers which are separated from each other such that different reagents may be injected, the plurality of chambers having bottom surfaces made of a membrane, the membrane comprising a destruction pattern which is formed at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of chambers and breachable by an external impact to discharge the injected reagent from the chamber.

06-26-2014

20140206073

MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM FOR NUCLEIC ACID ANALYSIS - A microfluidic system for analyzing nucleic acid, the microfluidic system including a reagent supply device including a sample chamber into which a sample can be injected, one or more reagent chambers for containing one or more reagents for extracting nucleic acid from the sample, and a waste chamber in which the used reagent can be discarded; a binding-lysis chamber in which cells are captured from the sample and lysed to form a cell lysate containing nucleic acid; plurality of particles for cell binding disposed in the binding-lysis chamber; a plurality of rehydration chambers into which the cell lysate formed in the binding-lysis chamber can be distributed and mixed with a nucleic acid amplification reagent to form an amplification reaction mixture; a plurality of amplification chambers in which a nucleic acid amplification reaction is performed on the amplification reaction mixture introduced from the plurality of rehydration chambers; and a flow channel system including an outlet and a plurality of inlets connected to the reagent supply device and forming an integrated fluid flow between the binding-lysis chamber, the rehydration chambers, and the amplification chambers.

07-24-2014

20140356853

AUTOMATED NUCLEIC ACID ANALYSIS SYSTEM - A nucleic acid analysis system comprising a seating area configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge; a pneumatic module configured to supply a pneumatic pressure or a vacuum to the cartridge when mounted on the seating area; a thermal module configured to control temperature in a predetermined portion of the cartridge when mounted on the seating area; an optic module positioned to irradiate light onto the cartridge when mounted on the seating area, and detect light generated or reflected from a sample inside the cartridge when mounted on the seating area; a fluid sensing module that determines whether a fluid in a predetermined portion of a cartridge mounted on the seating area is in a gaseous state or a liquid state; a scanning module that moves the optic module and the fluid sensing module relative to the seating area; and a control module that controls operations of the pneumatic module, the thermal module, the optic module, the fluid sensing module, and the scanning module, and processes and analyzes data received therefrom.

12-04-2014

20150031125

MICRO-DEVICE AND METHODS FOR DISRUPTING CELLS - A micro-device for disrupting cells includes a first chamber in which the cells are disrupted, a second chamber which is pressurized and depressurized, a flexible membrane which separates the first chamber and the second chamber and is vibrated by pressuring and depressurizing the second chamber, and a micro-unit confined in the first chamber, where the micro-unit disrupts the cells in the first chamber

01-29-2015

20150037876

MULTI-CHANNEL FLUORESCENCE DETECTING MODULE AND NUCLEIC ACID ANALYSIS SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME - Provided are a multi-channel fluorescence detecting module and a nucleic acid analysis system including the multi-channel fluorescence detecting module. The nucleic acid analysis system includes: a plurality of loaders configured to accommodate a plurality of cartridges respectively, the cartridges comprising microfluidic devices; a transfer module including a linear actuator, the linear actuator including a movable unit configured to move linearly; and a fluorescence detecting module fixed to the movable unit, the fluorescence detecting module being configured to emit excitation light to the cartridges and detect fluorescence emitted from samples on the cartridges. The loaders are arranged in a row in a linearly moving direction of the movable unit.

POLYNUCLEOTIDE AND USE THEREOF - A polynucleotide comprising a first region the 5′ end of which is complementary to a portion of a target nucleic acid, a cleavable second region, a third region having a stem-loop structure, and a fourth region complementary to the 3′ end of the first region, and use of the polynucleotide, as well as a composition comprising two such polynucleotides each of which hybridize different strands of a double-stranded target nucleic acid, and methods and kits using the same for amplifying targets.